In a gripping, real-life moment, the world watched as a man stood alone, his fatigues worn, his face covered with a keffiyeh, his arm severed. Armed only with a wooden stick, he raised it against a drone hovering above, defiant even in his vulnerability. It wasn’t long before a tank responded, firing a shell to silence him. This was not a Hollywood scene; it was a raw, viral image that exposed the brutal reality of Gaza.

Watching this scene unfold, I thought of the ancient story of David and Goliath, a tale passed down through centuries. In the biblical story, David, a young shepherd, faces a Philistine giant who terrorizes his people. Armed with nothing but a sling and a few stones, David steps forward alone, facing a foe who had crossed battle lines unchallenged for 40 days. But in one brave strike, he overcomes the seemingly invincible Goliath.

The echoes of David’s story are hard to ignore. Goliath, the foreigner, resided in Gath—a city that is, in fact, part of modern-day Gaza. Goliath was an outsider, without roots in the land, and so, too, are those who today act as “giants,” laying claim to Palestinian soil. As Goliath fell, so too will those who hold power unjustly, those who, like Goliath, come with no rightful attachment to the land of Palestine.

In this new, real-life chapter, the man with the wooden stick has become a modern-day David.  It is so profound that once the this scene went viral, a new proverb was coined. “I threw him with the stick of Sinwar!”  This phrase has become a symbol of defiance against overwhelming force. It resonates with a spirit of resilience, born from a place where many face their Goliaths daily, yet refuse to surrender.

What might have been going through his mind? How could a man, injured and knowing his fate was sealed, still choose to stand and fight rather than submit? David, somewhere, may look upon this moment and remember his own courage against an unstoppable foe, understanding the strength found in standing firm, even when hope seems thin.

The viral image of this man now stands as a testament to Gaza’s endurance. It represents a battle for honor, dignity, and the survival of those who suffer while the world watches. It is a rallying cry for those men, women and children in Gaza who have endured unimaginable suffering, with little aid or empathy from a world that often looks away.

The fascist occupation forces, with their unmatched firepower, burning people alive while in their tents, will face their demise, sooner or later.  They have lost the narrative.  They face a population that refuses to be subdued, a people who continue to rise like David did, despite every attempt to silence them. The might of weaponry cannot defeat the spirit of a people bound to their land, their faith, and their history.

The story of David and Goliath is timeless.  Strength alone does not grant victory; justice, courage, and resilience do. In Gaza, the spirit of David lives on through those who stand before tanks and drones, unwilling to yield.

In every new chapter of this struggle, there will always be another David among the Palestinians, ready to face Goliath. This man’s stand shows that Gaza’s spirit remains unbroken, that no matter the might of those oppressors, there will always be those who resist, those who inspire, and those who hold steadfast to the hope of liberation.